NRL Raiders in difficult situation: Stuart19 Mar 2018Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says his players are hurting following another close NRL loss and can see the effort is there despite going down to Newcastle.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart concedes the Raiders are in a difficult position but is urging calm following another NRL defeat.

The Raiders have begun the season with a pair of 30-28 losses after Sunday night's loss to Newcastle mirrored the round one result on the Gold Coast.

After suffering eight defeats by six points or fewer in 2017, these performances have only magnified the focus on Canberra in tight games.

Stuart said he would be patient with his players knowing the losses hadn't been for a lack of effort.

"There's no point ripping people's heads off because I'm upset about losing the game," Stuart said.

"I've got to be smart and I've got to be understanding of what the players are going through.

"It's a difficult situation that it is continually happening ... if (the problem) was there for everyone to see what exactly what it is, you'd be telling me."

Canberra has a six-day turnaround to deal with injuries before hosting the undefeated New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium.

Stuart said it wasn't looking good for Charlie Gubb (groin) and Joseph Leilua (ankle), who went down during the game, and also flagged two further injury concerns.

Star young winger Nick Cotric (knee) and Elliott Whitehead (back) finished the game but received medical attention during the second half.

Those concerns only add to the Raiders' injury woes, with forward Joseph Tapine to miss at least another two weeks due to a dislocated thumb.

"It's not all about next week. Obviously every game is a really important game to win but it's about making sure we don't lose all that effort and desire that's there," Stuart said.

"It's just not happening for us at the moment and there's little pieces of play not going our away and if they do we're sitting here a lot happier."

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